Combined door-opener and doorcheck



Dec. 17, 1935;

H. c. MILLER COMBINED noon OPENER AND Doom-1130K; v

Filed Sept; 2, 1935 3 snags-Sheet 1 17w efcl b r-.'- C' M Kier- H. C.MILLER Dec. 17, 1935.

' COMBINED DOOR OPENER AND DOORCHECK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2,1933 Dec. 17, 1935. H. c. MILLEF; 024,300;

. COMBINED DOOR OPENER AND DOORCHECK Filed Sept. 2, 1935 a sheets-sum aPatented Dec. l7,

COMBINED noon-OPENER noononEoK 7 Harry Miller, Willow Grove; Applicationseptember z, iesasenai swam 6 Claims. (Cl. 268-653 This inventionrelates to door-operating mechanisms and, more particularly,'tosuchmechanisms as comprise a-motor for opening a door against theaction of a'spring, the spring being wound under the influence of themotor and functioninglaterto close the door. Such mechanisms normallyand preferably comprise also braking means-which may take the form of adash-pot'to retard movement of the door in at least one direction of itsmovement to cause it to move gradually rather than abruptly.' An objectof the present invention is. to provide a; compact and unitary devicewhich incorporates certain novel features that render the device amarkedimprovement over prior devices ofthe same class, r g

The improved device of the invention embodies an electrically operableclutch interposed in the driving connection or gear train .between thedriving motor and the door-actuating means. I

The clutch is preferably operated by a solenoid device connected tothesupply circuit of the driving motor, the said device also preferably"having the characteristics ofa relay and controlling the energization'ofthe motor.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a spring arrangedto wind in either direction under the influence of a reversible motor sothat the device may be used in connection with either right or left handdoors. A further feature of the invention is the provision of means forrendering the driving motor ineffective to overcome the resistance ofthe spring while maintaining the motor energized so that the'torque ofthe motor substantially baiances the torque of the wound spring, thesaid means being controlled in accordance with movement of the doorsThisfeature preferably comprises, an impedance of predetermided'valueincircuit with the motor and a switch normally shunted about theimpedance. v

A still further feature of the invention is the control by presence. ofa person's; body which maybe affected by capacity sensitive devices,light sensitive devices, etc. .t a

Other objects and features of the invention will appear hereinafter..;The invention maybe clearly understood from a consideration of thepreferred form'illustrated in the drawings and described in detailhereinafter.

In the drawings: r: Fig. 1 is a plan view'showing the device incooperative relation with a door;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the device;

Fig.3 is a detail view of thedash -pot piston or p u e rLr e a Fig. 4 isa sectional view taken along lined-4 of Fig.2;

Fig. 5 is a-planj view of the device with thetop '5 cover thereofremoved; and... a 4

Fig.6 is a schematicillustrationbfltheelectric circuitof thedevice,

. .Referring to Fig. .1 of :the

comprises generally a unit igwhich isadapted-IO for ready attachment tothe door 2,.a n arm 3 .which-isadaptedwto be driven by unit .I, and asecond armjflwhich-is pivotally attached to arm 3, at 5 and which maybereadily attached to a .doorframe' G'by means of the attaching bracket15' I carried at the free end ofthe arm. It will be, understood that inoperation arm I is rotatedand sit,=in,turn,qactuates the door to openthe same through the mediumofarm .LmDuring closure ofthe door, the armsreturn to-'th positions shown.

.- Referring particularly 5, unit comprises a casing orhousing 8 whichisj especiallydesigned to house the various elements of .the deviceingcompact arrangementso that the deviceis unitary in structure andoccupies .as small a space as possible. The; driving motor is shown at 9and this motor carries uDQn itsarmature shaft avdriving pinion Ii) whichmeshes with gear ll. Gear ll is carried by collar I! which is mountedupon the rotatable .shaft l3. Collar l2 carries a second smaller gear l4which meshes with gear I 5," the latteri forminga; part of: the clutchmechanism above mentioned. Gear ii is carried upon collar l 6 which is.loosely mounted upon the "rotatable shaft l'l; While-gear i5 meshes ,at"all timeswith gear, ;it is slidable withrespecttheretotozeffectengagement and '1 0 disengagement ofthe clutchmembers i8 and-i8.

These 1 members preferably take. the; form .'of 4i) toothed. elements asshown; member I 3 Prefer.-

ably being formed integralwith or; attachedjdirectly to gear l5. It will.be noted that the teeth of the clutch inembers are so formed. that theyi.

may, readily engage each other {regardless of '45 their. respectiverotary positions, Clutch member I9 is carried upon the collar 20 whichis mounted Y upon shaft i'l andcarries pinionffhithelatter meshingiwithgear22. s I Collarli -is Provided with an annuiarre'cess 23 within.whicha-pair of rollers 24 carried at thebifurcated endof arm' ii (seeFig. .4) are disposed. Arm is pivotallye mounted at .20 and, its other."endfis pivotally attached at 21' to the armature 28 of the solenoiddevice'fl. v

iaw nss. he a...

solenoid device functions through arm 25 to reciprocate the movablecollar l6 and the clutch member I! carried thereby so as to eilect at anend thereof. The end of shaft 32 is squared as at 33 and arm 3 isprovided with a corresponding opening which snugly, receives the squaredend. A bolt 34 passes through the projecting end 35 of arm-3 and intoone of a series of apertures 33 (see Fig. 1) formed in disk 31. Thisdisk is also secured to sleeve in the manner of gear 22 as aboveexplained. It

' will be seen that sleeve 30 is locked to shaft 32 Fig. 5) which areadapted to cooperate with a through disk 31, bolt 34, and, arm3.

Thereis also secured to sleeve 30 a collar 38 having a cam portion 39which is' adapted to actuate a switch whose operation will beiexplainedhereinafter. This switch (see Fig. ,5) comprises a spring-biased pushbutton 40 which is adapted-to actuate the switch contacts posed withincasing 4|. a

The spring assembly comprises a helical or coiled spring 42 which ispreferably'form'ed oi flat metal, as shown, and a pair of' disks and44Qattachedto the ends'ofthe spring. These disks are" provided withprojecting lugs 43 and 46 respectively which are adapted to cooperatewith the extending fingers 41 and 43 formed on sleeve 30. Disks 43 and44 are also provided respectively with extending noses 49 and 50 (seerib Ii formed on the inner surface of casing 3. As shown clearly in Fig.5, nose III of disk 44 thereof. As shown in Fig. 2 flnger 41 of sleeve30 is disposedon one side of ing 45 of disk 43, while flnger 48 isdisposed'on the opposite side oflug46ofdisk44.-

The purpose of this arrangement iszto adapt spring 42 for windingoperation in either direction so that the device may be used on eitherright or left hand doors, the motor 3 being reversible. It will beseenfrom Fig. 2 that if sleeve 30 is rotated ina clockwise direction, flnger41 will engage lug 451to wind the spring in a certain direction, theother end of the spring being held stationary by engagement of the nose50' with rib ll. 0n the other-hand, if sleeve 30 is rotated in acounter-clockwise direction, flnger 43 enga'geslug 43 to wind the springin the opposite direction, the other end of the spring being heldstationary by engagement of nose 4! with rib II."

The spring assembly is disposed between washer 52' andthe screw plug",being seated uponthe axially-extending portion 54 of-the plug. Plug 53forms aclosure for the dash-pot tension by means of the adjusting diskI'I. when the device is mounted in cooperative relation with aparticular door whose direction of movement is ascertained, the springtension may be adjusted by removing bolt 34 so as to g unlock arm 3 withrespect to disk 31 and then rotating arm3 relative to the disk until thedesired tension of the spring is obtained, after which bolt 34 may beplaced in the proper opening 36 of disk 31 to lock the parts together. 1Since disk 31 is secured'to the spring-actuating sleeve 30, the desiredtensioning adjustment of the spring may thus be obtained.

Coming back to'the dash-pot, shaft 32 is attached at one end thereof tocrank 51 to which 15 is attached the movable piston or plunger 3.

The cylinder wall is provided with a duct or passage which is controlledby means of the needle valve 63.- As shown clearly in Fig. 3, the pistonis provided with a passage 6| which is m enlarged at one end and carriesa spring-biased ball 62, the ball and its seat constituting a one.- wayvalve, as will bemore clearly apparenthereinafter. An apertured-idisk 63serves to retain the ball and its spring in place. 5 In operation, whenshaft 32 is rotated during opening movement of the door, the: piston ismoved from: left to right, as viewed in Fig. 2. The oil, or other fluid,within the cylinder forces its way through the piston valve by forcingball 39 V 82 from its seatagainst the force of its actuating spring sothat there, is substantially no resistance imposedby the dash-pot on thedoor movement. During the opposite or closing movement ofthedoor,however, theoilor other fluid is unable to pass through the piston intheopposite direction so that it is compressed by the piston and is forcedto flow through the, duct or passage 59 in the cylinder wall.- Bymanipulation of the needlevalveill,v the flow of fluid through 0 the Icylinder wall passage may be accurately controlledto adjust the brakingaction of the dash-pot during closing movement of the door.

Referring now to the circuit diagram of Fig. 6, supply lines 34areconnected to asuitable source a of electrical energy (not shown) andthey supply energy to the motor supply circuit 63. This circuit may becontrolled automatically by means of a relay 6'! or it may be controlledmanually bya manually operable switch 88. If automatic 0 operation isdesired, relay 6'! may be energized in any desired manner. For example,the energizing circuit of the relay may be controlled by a lightsensitive cell to efl'ect closure of the motor supply circuit whenever aperson approaches the door, and intercepts a. beam of light. The relay.might also be controlled by mechanism which is sensitive to variationin electrical. capacity so that the capacity of an approaching porson'sbody effects energization of the relay, of which more 0 will be saidlater. Other methods of control will suggest themselves. If manualcontrol is desired, the. manually'operable switch 33 may take anydesired form. For example, it may take the form of a knob control switchwhich maybe 65 actuated by movement of the door knob by any- I onedesiring to open the door. r The solenoid device 29 above mentioned,which functions to operate the clutch is also preferably adaptedto-hctas a relay to control the motor 7 circuit. To this end, stationarycontacts'fl ar'e I provided and the solenoid core or armaturecarries amovable contact Ill whichis adapted to bridge the stationary contacts.The switch which is constituted by these, contacts is serially'inaosuaoo 1.3

eluded infthe supply line, as will be apparent.

" The energizing winding of the solenoid device is however, to open whenthe door reaches a predetermined position inits openingmovement so as toinclude resistance," in the motor-circuit.

The resistance acts as a holding resistance, reducing the current flowtothe motor and, consequently, reducing its torque to a valuesubstantially equal to the torque of thewound spring.

The-motor is'adapted to be energized at standstill by the reducedcurrent withoutideleterious efiects. A reversing switch "is providedtoenable reversal of motor 9 so that thedevicemay be used for eitherright or left hand doors;

1 Considering the operation of the :device as a whole, normally with thedoor inclosed-position, as shown, in Fig. l, the parts of'thedeviceawill .be inthe positions shown, reference being made particularlyto Fig. 2. The supply circuit for the motor will be open. Assuming nowthat the motor supplycircuit .is closed, either automatically ormanually, as described above. The winding of the solenoid device 29 willbe energized,

thereby actuating the armature or core toclose switch contacts 69 and 10and move clutch memher It into engagement with clutch member IS. Themotorbeing energized,.it functions to open the door by rotating sleeve30 through the gear train and interposed clutch.- Rotatloni of sleeve 30causes movement of arm 3 through the medium of disk 31 andconsequent-.openingmovement of the door. Rotation of sleeve ll alsorcauses winding of thespring; At this time also shaft 32 is rotated andthe piston moves freely in the dash-pot cylinder, as above described. a

When the door reaches a predetermined opened position, cam 39 engagespush button 40 to open the switch 12 and include resistance II in themotor circuit. This causes stopping of the motor, but the motor ismaintained energized and exerts suilicient torque to substantiallybalance the torque of the wound spring, as above described, to 'maintainthe door in open position until the motor supply circuit is opened. Atsuch time, the motor is deenergized, as is also the solenoid device,which allows separation of the clutch members, clutch member llreturning to inoperative position under the influence of gravity. If

'00 desired, a spring may be provided to positively return the clutchmember. Also, the teeth of the clutch members might be formed so as toact as cam members during reverse movement of the door, it thusbeinginsured that these members '65 will separate: even if there were atendency for them to stick.

when the torque exerted by the motor is thus removed, the torque of thewound spring causes movementof the door in the opposite direction toclose the same. At such time, the dash-pot piston moves in a directionto compress the fluid, the dash-pot thus acting as a braking means toretard closing of the door by the spring.

The parts return to their normal podtions and the device is ready forrepeated operation.

, A refinement of the device I ht .be ,made'by having switch I2controllable by the presence of aperson approaching the door iromtheopposite side so that the-switch would function. to

.cause stopping-of the door;to, ,thereby;,prev ent s thedoor'fromstriking the approaching -;p,erson.

couldbe accomplished by having theswitch controlled additionally bycapacity-sensitive m hani m. t -H. 16. apacit -.0 the f the approachingperson would eause. -actuation 10 of the switch to open the same.Thesame gen- --eral resultmight be accomplished by controlling theswitch with a light sensitivecell and a source of light properlypositioned for control, by the approachingpersons body. 15 Of thevarious possibilities of automatic. olieration of the device, thecapacity control method seems most feasible and practical, Accordingly,

,there is shown acontrolcircuit It connected-to relay 81, which circuitcomprises a capacity sen-:20

sitive device 15 inthe form. ofa vacuumtube.. An example of such adeviceis the grid glow tube I type K,-U 6l8 manuf actured byWestinghouse Electric and Mfg Co. In circuit with-this device is avariable condenser 10 ads variable resist- 25 ance, 11, the connectionstothe electrodesof the tube being as clearly illustrated; A: relay has.its energizing winding includedin, the plate circuit of the tube,- thisrelay being sensitive to. the minute currents of: the, tubecircuit-and'controlling .the; energizing circuit of relay' ll. .Sup-

ply; lines I! may be connectedito a suitable elec- .trical energysource, preferably-,thesamesource as suppliesllnesJLgRelay "may beconnected to other control .devices,- as indicated by the 35 brokenarrow head lines. a i

In operation, tube 1.5 responds tothecapacity of a persons body-in theimmediate vicinity'to eilectsuchcurrent flow through relay" as to causeenergization thereof, which, in turn causes 40 energization of relay 61,

' Animportant feature of the device b: the invention is that normallythev clutch members are disengaged and the door' maybe operated easilyby hand in the ordinary manner.. This meets the ,45 requirementsof thefire underwriters; providing i'or such emergencies asflre. Of course,if. automatic control is provided-,5 theregmay .be some simple provisionfor disabling it when desired, such as a circuit-opening switch. so

Although a preferred form of the device-has been illustrated anddescribed herein and certain suggested arrangements have beenspecified," the invention is not limited to the present disclosure butis capable of such modifications as fall within 55 the scope of theappended claims.

I claim: I

. 1.,A unitary device adapted to be mounted in cooperative relation to adoor for operating the same, comprising an electric motor, door-actuat-00 mg mechanism, driving means between said motor and said mechanismincluding normally inoperative clutch members permitting manualoperation of the door independentlyof said motor,

electrically operable means for simultaneously ($6 rendering said clutchmembers operative and energizingsaid motor to elect operation of saidmechanism by the motor, a door-closing spring associated with saidmechanism and arranged to wind when the door is opened either manuallyor .70 a J ,under the influence of said motor, and braking means adaptedto retard the closing movement .of said door caused by said spring, 1 r

,2. A unitary device adapted to! mounted in cooperativerelation to adoorfor operating the (a same, comprising an'electricmotor,'door-actuat-' ing mechanism. driv'ing means between said motorandsaid mechanism including interlockable'm'embers' normally tree oreach other and permitting manual operation 01' the door independently ofsaid motor, electrically operable means for simultaneously interlockingsaid members and energizing said motor to effect oporation of saidmechanism by themotor, a doorcloung-spring associated with saidmechanism and arranged to wind when the door ,is opened eithermanually'or under the iniiuence'oi" said motor, and braking meansadapt'ed'to retard the closing movementpi said door caused-by said anismby the motor, a door-closing spring associated with said mechanism andarranged to wind when the door is opened either manually or under theinfluence oi-said motor, and braking means adapted to retard theclossing movement 0! said door'caused by said spring.

4. A unitary device adapted to be mounted in cooperative relation to adoor, for operating the same, comprising an electric motor,door-actuating mechanism, driving means between said motor and saidmechanism including normally inoperative'clutch members permittingmanual operation of the door independentlyoi' said motor, electricallyoperable means for simultaneously rendering said clutch membersoperative and energizing said motor to eil'ect operation or saidmechanism by the motor, a door-closing spring associated withsaid'mechanism and arranged to .wind when the door is opened eithermanually or under the influence oi said motor,

aoaaaoo braking means adapted to retard the closing movement of the doorcaused by said'spring,

means for reducing the torque" oi the motor to substantially balance thetorque "of the wound spring, and means for controlling said last means 5in accordance with movement of said door.

' 5; Klinitary'device adapted to be mounted in cooperative relation to adoor for operating the I same, comprising an electric motor,door-actuatin'g mechanism, driving means between 'said motor andsaidmechanism including normally m inoperative clutch members permittingmanual operation of the door independently of said motor, electricallyoperable means for simultaneously rendering said clutch membersoperative and energiizng said motor to effect operation of u saidmechanism by the motor, a door-closing spring associated with saidmechanism and arranged to wind when the door is opened either manuallyor under the influence of said motor s; A. unitary device adapted to bemounted in cooperative relation to a door, for operatingthe same,comprising an electric motor, door-actusting mechanism, driving meansbetween said motor and said mechanism, means for energizing said motorto effect operation of said mechanism by the motor, a door-closingspring associated with said mechanism and arranged to wind when the dooris opened under the influence of said motor, a braking 'mea'ns adaptedto retard the closing movement of the door caused by said sprinaimeansfor reducing the torque of the motor to substantially balance the torqueoi the wound. spring, and mleans'ior controlling said last meanssinaccordance with movement oi said 5 door.

, HARRY C. MEIER.

braking means adapted to retard the closing 20 and a switch-normally 26

